The Tokarahi Golf Club, 30km inland from Oamaru, is hosting a leg of the Legends Pro-Am tournament for the third time tomorrow.
Club president and greenkeeper Marty McCone said the Legends tour was for male professional golfers over the age of 50. Each teams up with three local amateurs. There are 39 professionals this time and enough amateurs to make up 29 teams. That leaves 10 of the pros to go it alone.
A lot of work had been put in, McCone said.
"The course is as good as I’ve ever had it."
His skills were acknowledged with the 2012 award for best-groomed golf course in Otago and Southland. He said he was constantly learning more about greenkeeping, which he fits around his work as a farmer.
He will be out on the course at 6am tomorrow to give it a final mow and cut the holes.
Some of the pros, who were keen to return this year, would probably play a 9-hole "scramble" today, he said.
It was a major mission for the small club to come up with the $11,000 prize purse. McCone gave the credit to committee member Barry Matthews, who "knows everyone in New Zealand".
Richard Watson organised the professionals’ attendance, Graham Johnson put the teams together, Murray Simpson was the "fix-it man", and Jacqui Watson was in charge of catering.
"The ladies do a fantastic job of the food," McCone said.
Tee-off is at 8am. Spectators are welcome.
● The Tokarahi Golf Club will celebrate its 50th jubilee on March 17 and 18. Tours of the course will be given on the Friday and golf and a dinner will be held on the Saturday.
